Global Patent Index - EP 0152120 B2

EP 0152120 B2 19960320 - Hand-held, self-contained, automated pipette for pipetting and/or titrating liquids

Title (en)

Hand-held, self-contained, automated pipette for pipetting and/or titrating liquids

Title (de)

Einheitliche, handgehaltene, automatische Pipette zum Pipettieren und/oder Titrieren von Flüssigkeiten

Title (fr)

Pipette autonome, automatique, tenue à la main pour pipetter et/ou titrer des liquides

Publication

EP 0152120 B2 19960320 (EN)

Application

EP 85101772 A 19850218

Priority

US 58058784 A 19840216

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0152120A2] A hand held self-contained automated pipette for portable operation having an electrically operated digital linear actuator is disclosed. The digital linear actuator preferably includes a stepper motor driving a rotor. A threaded screw is coaxially positioned within the rotor and is connected to an actuator shaft having elongate grooves slidable in a guide for preventing actuator shaft rotation so that precise linear motion is imparted to the actuator shaft. Provision is made for the removable attachment of pipetting displacement assemblies of various sizes all actuated by a common digital linear actuator including programmed movement of a displacing piston in a displacement cylinder to optimize air interface volume, neutralize variations in vacuum pipette effects, and provide an accommodated stroke and readout for improved accuracy while pipetting and/or titrating different ranges of volumes. A control circuit is provided so that the back EMF of the stepper motor coils is recirculated when power is duty-cycled off for power conservation. Conversely, recirculation is switched off when power is duty-cycled on for minimizing losses. Recirculation is switched off when coils are commutated which produces a rapid magnetic field collapse for assuring high torque. Upon calibration the displacing piston undertakes immediate excursion to an end of travel limit and after motor slippage is retracted to a home position. This home position is chosen for optimum preservation of an air interface volume between drawn liquid and the displacing piston tailored with particularity to the displacement assembly being used. Multiple precision modes are provided for the convenience of the operator, these modes including pipetting, multiple dispensing, titration, and dilution. Other features are also disclosed.

IPC 1-7

B01L 3/02

IPC 8 full level

B01L 3/02 (2006.01); G01N 1/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

B01L 3/0227 (2013.01 - EP US); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01 - EP); B01L 2200/087 (2013.01 - EP); B01L 2300/027 (2013.01 - EP US); Y10T 436/116664 (2015.01 - EP US); Y10T 436/25625 (2015.01 - EP US); Y10T 436/2575 (2015.01 - EP US)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

CH DE GB IT LI NL

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0152120 A2 19850821; EP 0152120 A3 19871202; EP 0152120 B1 19920708; EP 0152120 B2 19960320; AU 3890685 A 19850822; AU 589891 B2 19891026; CA 1293709 C 19911231; DE 3586289 D1 19920813; DE 3586289 T2 19960613; DE 3588071 D1 19960125; DE 3588071 T2 19960613; EP 0428500 A2 19910522; EP 0428500 A3 19920129; EP 0428500 B1 19951213; FR 2559904 A1 19850823; FR 2559904 B1 19890331; JP H0513709 B2 19930223; JP S60193549 A 19851002; US 4671123 A 19870609; US 4905526 A 19900306

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 85101772 A 19850218; AU 3890685 A 19850218; CA 474579 A 19850218; DE 3586289 T 19850218; DE 3588071 T 19850218; EP 91100117 A 19850218; FR 8502219 A 19850215; JP 2919885 A 19850216; US 58058784 A 19840216; US 5964487 A 19870608